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. 2025 Jul 31;15(1):27920.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-12702-3.

Effect of land use on the concentrations of trace elements and heavy metals in the hair of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Caroline Marschner  1 , Rachael Gray  2 , Michael Terkildsen  2 , Damien P Higgins  2 , Robert McQuilty  3 , Mark B Krockenberger  2
Affiliations

Effect of land use on the concentrations of trace elements and heavy metals in the hair of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Caroline Marschner et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Increased exposure to environmental contaminants is a concern for local koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations where massive transformation or loss of habitat has occurred over the past century as a consequence of increased urbanisation and industrial and agricultural practices. The koala is a specialist eucalypt feeder that relies on an almost exclusive diet of eucalypt foliage. Eucalypts can accumulate elements to varying degrees. Chronic ingestion and bioaccumulation could potentially affect the metabolic pathways of koalas and consequently interfere with detoxification of eucalypt plant secondary metabolites, reduce food intake, and cause long-term health effects. This field study provides the first evidence of the significance of the environmental factor, land use, region and host factors, age and sex, on bioaccumulation of trace element and heavy metal (elements) in koalas. Data on observed ranges of element concentrations are provided from the hair of 328 koalas sampled across eight different regions of NSW and Victoria, Australia. Land use was shown to be the most significant factor affecting trace elements and heavy metal concentrations in koalas, followed by region. Associations between element concentrations and host factors, koala age and sex, were only seen for a small number of elements.

Keywords: Phascolarctos cinereus; Heavy metals; Koala; Land use; Trace elements.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
main koala sampling sites: Northern River region, North Coast NSW (pink dots), Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, NSW (red dots), Gunnedah Shire North-West NSW (purple dots), http://nationalmap.gov.au.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Northern River region, North Coast NSW (pink dots are koala locations), http://nationalmap.gov.au.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Gunnedah Shire, North-West NSW (purple dots are koala locations), http://nationalmap.gov.au.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, NSW region (red dots are koala locations), http://nationalmap.gov.au.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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